A beautiful young woman. That’s what she was. Alice was of course, many other things but her features and overall appeal were at the far end mankind’s spectrum of attractive. She was also troubled. The wedding was in a week. One week. Yesterday she was given the news, and today she sat shaking in front of the mirror. The Peace Council had selected the first two humans and she was the second unlucky female.

“Maybe I will die quickly.” She thought with a certain amount of fear, but a glimmer of relief. Then she could be with her father. Dead Daddy.

***

Motto paced in his cave until his mind got too full and he had to stop and punch the ground. His fists were torn and bleeding. He didn’t spend much time around his kind and dwelt alone on the mountain. He never spent time with men..aside from hunting them and eating them. His last meal had been a year ago, a month before the Tincture Decree. It was hearty and sustaining; the tincture. It tasted empty. His lack of social immersion in made him a scandalous choice of vampyre for the Unity Merge Treaty, but the Peace Council insisted that it was the best way to convince doubtful parties.

“A meeting in two hours.” He muttered. “What’s there to talk about? Hi, I’ll be your husband. Try not to be afraid of me because it’ll trigger my instinct to hunt.” Motto punched the ground several times. This whole thing was a very bad idea.

Gregory paced running a hand through his shaggy hair he hadn't let it get this wild in ages. He had always been fine trimmed and pressed, dressed to impress and draw in the unsuspecting when he got the urge to feed. Getting into hot water by feeding off the wrong human was what had gotten him into this mess. Once again he was in debt to a man of power and frankly if it wasn't for the man's other half he would've simply left town and started a new like he had before. But Kaia was quite possibly an even scarier woman than Elizabeth, the woman who had sired him into this life. Looking in the mirror he combed his hair back into lace the best his fingers would allow and decided it was time to start resuming his look. His brown eyes after the change had gone almost black to match his ebony hair. "Jeremy would you mind giving me a trim like last time? I'd hate for my new bride to see me after a visit with clippers from Amy." He called to the other room, with confirmations of an acceptable cut promised he went about searching for his ceremonial clothes for the first official meeting tonight and then those for the coming events.

Cassandra had been shocked at the announcement, her world had been spinning for the last three hours she had curled up in a ball on the couch barely registering the coffee her roommate Jenn had placed in her hands. If she had offended the council why not just kill her on the spot? Instead whatever she had done had gotten her selected as one of the human to be practically sacrificed to those monster under the charade of an arranged marriage for peace between the races. One week and her life would be forfeit why they chose her she would never know, all she did was work at a small coffee dinner during the mornings, visit a coffee shop on her way home and take online classes in the evening for a degree. Sipping her drink she couldn't help but give a small thank you smile to the girl beside her. Jenn, she would miss the most."Don't you and the other girl have to meet with the council and the vampires before everything happens? I mean you know the council, if you don't go willingly they send the enforcers to collect you." Jen said holding up a cute outfit than was one of Cassandra's favorite. "Come on Cass, it shouldn't be that bad, besides with a husband that strong you wouldn't have to worry about getting robbed on the streets." Jenn joked once again trying to make the best out of a bad situation.

((would've added pictures but nothing i did was working...))

_________________I am Pagan and I'm proud, Say it long and sing it loud! I'm a healer and a witch, it does not mean that i'm a b!tch.Don't judge me by fears of the past, A witchy curse I shall not cast! I want to change what people say, I will not hide myself away.I am Pagan, I am here. Not someone for you to fear.

The Hall of Kings was where the chosen pairs stood assembled, vampyr on one side of the room and humans on the other. Three Council members sat at the far end with both groups in full view.

“Escorts may leave now.”

“But… there was nothing said of this.”

“We humbly request to stay and obser-”

“This shall be a sacred and private ceremony. Do what is asked of you, and usher in a new era of peace.”

Alice’s escort wasn’t pleased and many others reacted as well, even on the side of the vampyrs. Motto’s in particular, although the high-ranking vampyr was perfectly composed, he spoke up immediately. There was a strong possibility Motto might not make it through the ceremony at all before succumbing to his thirst. No one but him and the Council members knew the situation. Motto’s escort found no cooperation however, and reluctantly gave Motto’s naked shoulder a squeeze before turning and walking out. Earlier that hour he had nearly torn Motto’s arm off and beat him with it when the stubborn vampyr refused to wear formal attire, but Motto’s argument was reasonable.

“I will come as I am!” He shouted, covered in sweat from their fighting. “Isn’t this why I was chosen? Because I’m the crude representation, right?” And now he stood sweating for a new reason in the King’s Hall. Motto’s naked chest rose and fell while he stood with his head down and eyes on the floor. It was humiliating, being the raw spectacle of his kind. He wanted to hurry up and get the marrying over with so he could go back to his cave.

The doors shut with a loud sound and a lock activated . The building’s design mimicked the style of an 18th Century Castle , with large rooms and towering walls. Statues, marble floors, chandeliers, paintings, and for this particular occasion, and small ensemble of musicians. Strings mostly.

********************

“This shall be a sacred and private ceremony. Do what is asked of you, and usher in a new era of peace.”

Alice didn’t hear it. She was mesmerized by the vampyr across from her. She’d never seen one in real life. Sure t.v. and E-zines..on the cybernet. Things like that. But never actually in the same room with them. He was more attractive than she expected. Alice had tried to prepare herself by thinking about the uglier vampyr she’d seen pictures of but this guy was exceptionally attractive. She looked at his hands, and the way he stood..his face and clothes and hair. He was way out of her league, and Alice felt a little embarrassed but mostly taken aback. But his kind had eaten her father. EATEN. Taken him from her when she needed him. She loved her father more than anyone else, and those monsters hunted him down and ripped him to pieces. It was gruesome and tragic. She felt hatred in her heart for the man across the room, but guilty strangeness also.

He could hardly remember the last time he had felt so, right. His hair was washed combed and cut, he wore his crimson dress shirt with black slacks that were tailored to fit his form. He could stand even Elizabeth's overly obsessive controlling inspections with how he stood tonight. waving off Jeremy as the council made their demands he glanced across at the young women and wondered how they had been selected. One was practically drooling as if he were trying to draw her in and the other perhaps she knew the danger she was in, glancing at the man beside him and his escort who seemed more than hesitant to depart. "Are you going to make it through this brother?" He asked lightly wondering if the man who looked as though he was fresh from the change would be the fastest end to a treaty in history.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walking into the room had felt like walking down the hall to death row like in the movies, but as the escorts were asked to leave he held on to Cole's hand a moment extra, Jenn had asked her brother to act as Cassandra's escort as a comfort. Releasing his hand as the council made it clear, she said a soft thank you before once again glancing across the room to the two men, one seemed well put together and ready to actually try to make the treaty work, the other if she wasn't mistaken he looked like he was suffering, and the fact that he only seemed interested in the floor was odd as the other man was studying them. one looks at us as though we are his next meal the other acts as though he wishes to avoid us to keep from eating us, are we dead already? Trying to hide her trembling hands she locked her fingers behind her back standing proud in her favorite blue jeans and long sleeve shirt with flared sleeves so her hands were almost hidden. she turned her attention to the council at the front of the room.

_________________I am Pagan and I'm proud, Say it long and sing it loud! I'm a healer and a witch, it does not mean that i'm a b!tch.Don't judge me by fears of the past, A witchy curse I shall not cast! I want to change what people say, I will not hide myself away.I am Pagan, I am here. Not someone for you to fear.

Motto glanced at his fellow vampyr and saw that he was a fine sort. Handsome and well groomed. He stood nicely. Without realizing it, Motto adjusted his posture to mimic Gregory’s. Nodding slightly, Motto answered, “I will.” He was nervous, but he could do a better job of concealing it for the sake of the rest. Maybe he would be fine. Maybe Motto would never thirst again and find bliss with the human female across the room. She was pretty so that was good. ‘She’s not the type I would typically hunt.’ he privately mused, ‘that might help alot. She probably tastes sweet rather than savory without the higher iron levels..I can tell by the color..I can smell her from here...she is very sweet. mmmmm..’ He stared at Cassandra with a soft smile forming on his face. Not accustomed to socializing, Motto was easy to read with his open expressions and body language.

“You may approach your betrothed and join hands now.” A council member announced with a kind voice. She was pleased with the couples and nodded to the musicians. They began to play an ancient tune once renowned for its romantic appeal. In a flash Motto was inches from Cassandra. He was nervous but smiling. The damn ceremony was almost over! As practiced, he bowed low before holding his arms up and out for her to take. She probably had warm little hands..and soft.

If Cassandra were to take Motto’s hands, he would wait for the appropriate time signature to begin leading her into a tender waltz. Motto didn’t normally dance, but he’d rehearsed this waltz thing many times and felt confident at it. His steps were solid and strong, brimming with passion but his hold on her would be extraordinarily gentle. The last thing Motto wanted was to break the human mid-ceremony.

******************

“You may approach your betrothed and join hands now.”

Alice inhaled and lifted her chin before walking to the room’s center. She would join hands with the stupid demon and dance the stupid waltz with him. Just as one might guess, the high society girl was a graceful dancer. Trembling but graceful. She would allow Gregory to lead her and let her steps be guided by his as the music played. Her skirt wasn’t long enough or loose enough to swish about if they were to spin, but it didn’t matter. She kept her eyes from meeting the creature’s and silently thought about how to kill him and avenge her father.

Relieved that the man seemed to have a better hold on himself that Gregory had thought he almost chuckled as the man seemed to try and copy his own posture, only when the announcement came to join hands did he want to hang his head for the male as he seemed to almost scare the poor thing to death. If he was right the poor woman had terror written across her, he hoped that wouldn't put a damper on their future. Shaking off the other man's jump he patiently walked across at a pace that hopefully wouldn't scare his own bride to be. The music took him back to his first years as a fledgling, wonderful times, easy hunts and no, no, no! This was not the time to think of these things. Forcing his fangs to retract he gave a gentle smile the the woman as he met her in the middle and gave a small bow that if she knew her history could possibly date him. "Have you ever danced a formal dance my dear?" He asked softly knowing his voice could never again be without its velvet touch. As the tempo hit the time he led her gently the way he had so many through the ages.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

As the council asked for them to join hands she swore she had heard a trade of words between the men, were they going to do as asked of were they planning their attack against the council like the news had said some humans and vampyres alike were against any form of truce. Turning to face them she barely had time to register the movement before he was inches from her. Her heart dropped and she felt herself go pale in realization of how fast these beings really were, there would be no escape if things went wrong. As he bowed and the music started she reminded herself that the council was here and surely there would be some hope for her if the men were plotting an attack. With a half breath she took his hands in hopes that he wouldn't accidentally crush her if he was in this for the right reasons. Hopefully her childhood dance lessons had taught her something, it felt like it had been another life as she tried to remember.

_________________I am Pagan and I'm proud, Say it long and sing it loud! I'm a healer and a witch, it does not mean that i'm a b!tch.Don't judge me by fears of the past, A witchy curse I shall not cast! I want to change what people say, I will not hide myself away.I am Pagan, I am here. Not someone for you to fear.

She was afraid. He could hear her heart hammering and feel the blood pulsing in her little hands. They were soft just like he guessed. Motto felt sorry for her. If anything he wanted to do well for her sake alone. Motto would do his very best not to eat her. With that happy vow in his simple heart, Motto unfettered his wings and lifted their dance ten meters up into the air. One council member was about to speak when another touched their arm and shook their head. Motto watched his bride-to-be carefully as he led her around in graceful circles.

He wanted to smile at her and comfort her, but he wasn’t very good at conversation. The best he could do was to keep his touch gentle while remaining very strong and alert. Her scent was very delicate and it had spice! A hint of heat within the sugary red life food. He imagined there were probably three parts to her taste; an initial sweetness both overly so yet lacking in one area to hold his attentions longer..into the second part where the spice probably made itself known. Probably a deficiency or small irregularity in her body caused this unique trait, but there would be a faint moment when both honey and savory warmth blended together to create a new part. Sometimes...there were those with a fourth taste. Was she one? Motto’s eyes were already half-lidded and fangs descending at the thought. He was dipping his head. It was all automatic..he had never had to deny himself like this before. Somehow he caught himself and pulled his head back. Wide-eyed and trembling, he felt immensely sorry and embarrassed. Had anyone noticed? He needed to do better! For the sake of his kind. For the sake of the poor girl. Slowly he lowered himself and the small woman down to where they could touch the floor and resume dancing on their feet.

He softened his hold even more and would look into her eyes with hopes that she might look at him. She might see that he was just as scared. That he wanted to not mess up and stuff. She had a small body. He would protect it!

“If I’m your slave guardian, would you be less afraid?” He asked, clearly unaware that this was his first spoken word to her. Motto was simply caught up in his thoughts and eager to put them to use. “Of course we must marry as the Council decreed, but yeah. If you are my Queen then you wouldn’t have to worry about …...things.” Motto smiled nervously. He waited to hear her answer. “I vow to protect you forever.”

******************

"Have you ever danced a formal dance my dear?"

Alice moved smoothly along with each step of Gregory’s. “I am not your dear, Hell spawn.” She tired to sound airy, but it came out as forced and edgy instead. Hearing herself, she opted to shift to her normal tone. “I have danced many traditional styles in my single lifetime.” Her icy blue eyes bore into his. “There’s something rather authentic about that, wouldn’t you agree? Because in all honesty what haven’t your kind done?” She restrained her rage but barely. Alice wanted to belittle the monster. She wanted to insult him and mock him. She also privately wondered what his abs looked like as well as his back.

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